Current measuring circuit



Dec. 15, 1959 R. H. POIRIER CURRENT MEASURING CIRCUIT Filed Aug. 5, 1958 2d 2/ Iii LI! INVENTOR. ar/ij wzan United States Patent MEASURING CIRCUIT Roger H. Poirier, Westfield, Mass.

Application August 5, 1958, Serial No. 753,308 1 Claim. (Cl. 194-9) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in structural refinements in a coin-operated metering system for the dispensing of a commodity such as fuel oil, gas, electrical energy or the like. It is directed more particularly to the provision of a means for controlling an electrical circuit such as, for example, the electrical circuit of an oil burner, through a time controlled coin device; When and if the fuel oil consumed by the oil burner has ,not been paid for in advance by the consumer through the dropping of a coin or coins into the coin mechanism thereof, which mechanism is an integral part of the metering system, then the use or consumption of additional quantities of the fuel oil by the oil burner is prevented.

My invention hasparticular application for vendors -of fuel oil who may desire to ensure prepayment for same as his consumed by the oil burner in the building of the vendee. ,7

The system has the unique advantage that it may be installed quickly and easily in the vendees building, by the vendor, with a minimum of time and efiort. Same can 'be' accomplished without the necessity of extensive wiring into existing circuits with its attendant costs made necessary by the usually obligatory hiring of licensed electricians for accomplishing such .work.

My invention resides in the particular arrangement, construction and relationship of elements of the metering system, all astdisclosed-in the accompanying description in which the objects of, the invention will be apparent.

It is contemplated that the device hereof will be used to provide current for a given length of oil burner operating time upon the insertion of a coin or coins, of given denominationor value. The device may be used either in the sale of fuel oil as such, or may be used as an instrument in the collection of time payments in connectionwith the apparatus which consumes the'fuel oil. The attachment of such a meter to an oil burner will force. the customer tomake payments for the fuel oil consumed thereby through the necessity of keeping the system; supplied with coins in order to render the oil burner operable;

The device and/or system hereof offers the unique advantage that is, it is possible for the user of the commodity to pay for sar'nein advance in such amounts and at such .rates as he himself may determine.

The device and/or system is novel in that it satisfies a natural and normal desire on the part of some consumers, who object to monthlyor other periodic billings, to pay for their commodity as they go.

Theamount of the commodity, such as fuel oil, which is stored in the users buildings, is charged to him, as is normal,"and the amount or amounts deposited by the vendeeand periodically collected by the vendor is or are credited to the vendors account with the vendee.

It is of course desired by a vendor that a vendee keep his account current but in no event will the balance owed by the vendee equal the full amount due for a load of the. fuel oil as itis normally charged the vendee until 2,917,149 Ce Patented Dec. 15, 1959 said vendee actually consumes the fuel oil of the load thereof so stored.

According to the invention, a prepayment mechanism for fuel oil, gas, electricity or a like commodity is provided for the control of the supply of such commodity to a commodity-consuming mechanism in a domicile or the like which includes a motor for operating the commodity consuming mechanism, a power source for operating the motor, a coin controlled meter which is automatically operated by the insertion of a coin or coins for the purpose of conditioning the circuit by means of a normally open switch means which is movable into a closed position upon said insertion for energizing a relay and thereby closing an arm whereby the energization of a low voltage circuit is accomplished for the completion of a circuit to the motor, and timing means for opening the circuit and shutting off the motor by the deenergization of the relay according to the calls of the thermostat for oil burner operation and during the elapse of a period as determined by the value of the coin or coins inserted into the coin controlled means.

When it is desired to meter electric current for the operation of an oil burner on a time basis, an electric clock mechanism is activated by a system controlled by the coin or coins. The components thereof coact and cooperate in such a manner that the insertion of a coin activates the meter mechanism of the clock, with the clock being adapted to shut off the load current after a predetermined lapse of operating time according to the value of the coin or coins employed.

In other words, by the insertion of a coin of predetermined'denomination, the timing motor and the oil burner motor start operating if, and only if, the thermostat is calling for heat. When the thermostat is satisfied, the timing motor and the oil burner motor are rendered inoperative to await further calls for operation by the thermostat.

The timing motor and hence the oil burner motor may operate so long as, and only so long as, any increment of time as represented in the payment by the consumer through his dropping a coin into the coin mechanism remains to the credit of the consumer.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel and improved construction of the type in which a low voltage circuit relay, energized by the action of a coin or coins, will be kept in operative condition for a predetermined time interval or for a predetermined total of smaller time intervals so as to permit the operation of the oil burner connected thereto according to the call or calls for such operation by the oil burners thermostat.

In this invention, there is the provision of an electrical circuit or system which will operate with a maximum amount of ease and with a minimum degree of effort, installationwise and operationwise.

Another object hereof is to provide a control device for the operation of an oil burner, which, upon insertion of a coin or coins, will operate, either continuously or at intervals, over a certain period of time according to the value of the coin or coins deposited and according to the demands for such operation as controlled by the thermostat connected to the oil burner.

purpose stated above, which will retain the said electrical circuit relay as energized, without interruption to the electrical circuit controlled thereby, until the termination of'a number of timeintervals corresponding to the null? ber and/or value of the coin or coins depositedinxthe clock device of the apparatus. I .1

Still another object of the invention is to provide: ani improved timing system having a simple-electrical-switch: mechanism which will function for longperi'odsof'tim'ewithout the necessity of adjustment or: re airs,-whichelectrical switch, when closed bythe: deposition of a coin: or coins, may be kept closed during an interval-lofy'timei according to the calls of'the thermostat: for-oil burner operation and also according to;the, yalue; of the-coinage, deposited into the coin controlling device thereof Other more specific objects and advantagesofitheiin vention will be'apparent upon a full understandingofthe; nature, relationship and purpose. of th'e-severalrcoopenating parts of the apparatus as hereinafter;recited:

One form of the invention is presented-herein byway of exempliiication; It will, of course, beappreciated'that: the invention is susceptible of embodimentjn other:modified forms coming equally withim the scope of-fitheappended claims. Although the invention has beenz described and illustrated herein with particular-reference toan oil burner and its operation, it is to be appreciated' that its utility and application extend beyond such "a. particular type of system and comprehendthe useful and novel features set forth when combined with any corn-v modity consuming mechanism of any type suchas gas range, refrigerators, or the like; 7 p

The above objects and advantages of the inventionireside in the features of novelty and details ofconstruction and operation as more fully hereinafter pointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming part of this description.

In the drawings: F r

The figure is a wiring diagram to explain-the novel features of the invention. A v ,7 I

In the following description and claim, variousdetails will be identified by specific means for convenience. These names, however, are intended to be asgeneric in their application as the art will permit.

Referring now to the drawing, I have shown the usual; power line which is represented by 2 and which may bea 110 volt A.C. circuit from a suitable source of electricity, as is commonly found in buildings employing motor-operated oil burners. e r r The supply voltage may, of course, beother'than thatherein specified. v

The oil burner motor is represented by 4 audit may 1 be in a location remote from-or adjacent to the control mechanism of the invention, as may be desired.

The operation of the oil burner motor 4' is facilitated throughits connection to the power line 2 by means of connections 6 and 8.

Lines 1i) and 12 extend from the lines 6 and 8 respectively and lead to a wall receptacle 14 of theusual type.-

The system hereof about to be described may be rendered operative merely by plugging into' a wall receptacle such as 14 so as to obviate the expensive and laborious task of wiring into an already existing wiring system or installing an entirely now Wiring system.

As will subsequently be observed, the system is-fool-' proofin that the commodity consumingmechanisrmsuch as theoil burner, cannot be'operated independent of the invention thereof to thereby thwart the efforts of the' vendor of the commodity from insuring payment for 'his said commodity.

The primary of a step-down transformer, generallyindicated by 16, is connected to thelines1'6 and 8' by means of connections '18 and 19 respectively. 7

The transformer, when energized, provides'a low voltageof 25- volts to the system.- 75

The secondary of the transformer 16 is connected by a connection 20 to a low voltage relay 22.

The arm 24 of the relay 22 is in the high voltage line 8.

The relay 22 is connected by a connection 26 t0 the arm 28 of a relay 30.

A connection 32 connects between the contact 34 of the relay 3G and the secondary-ofthe transformer 16.

A conventional double prong plug represented by 40 is connected to the relay- 30'by means of a connection 42 along which a normally open switch 44 is placed. Said switch 44 closes upon the dropping of an appropriate coin into the coin receiving mechanism generally represented as within the dash lines C.

The switch 44 controls the operation of a timer motor 46 connected by a connection 48 to a contact 49 of the switch 44 to the connection 42 and also connected by a connection 50, to a connection 52 connecting between the relay 30 and the contact 54 of a relay 56.

The arm 58of the relay 56 is connected by aconnec tion 60 to the other side of the plug '40;

The primary of a'transformer, generally indicated"by 62 is connected to the'lines 42 and 58 leading i maneplug 40' by meansof connections 64 and 66 respectively" and is adapted, when en'ergized, to provide a'low" voltage to a thermostat 68 by'means ofa connection 70 which I is connected to the secondary of the transformerand a connection 72'Which is'connected between the contact'of' the thermostat and the relay 56, said relay 56 bei'ng'alsof' connected by a connection 74 to the secondary of the transformer 62. t

The arms 24, 28 and 58 of the relays 22, 30 and"56f respectivelyare normally 'in circuit'open positionswhe n said relays are deenergized.

As' aforesaid, a coin-controlled electricallyoperated time measuring mechanism or device which maybeof' any well known and conventional type is generally desig' nated as the aggroupment of components disposed within the dash lines indicated 'by the letter C.'

Said components are preferably incorporated within:

All that need be done by the vendor is to coniiect'his' unit to the low' voltage lines '26 "and" 32 of the oil burner system of the building as' will subsequently be observed. Connections70 and'72 must also be connected'tdtrz'an's? former 62 and relay 56 respectively.

The clock mechanism or timing devicewillbe'such' that, for a' certain value of coin or coins, the clock mech anism 0r. timing device, when energized, will operate'for' a certain predetermined'periodof'timeof"operation"of" the oil burner.

That is, when a minor coins is/aredepositedthere into, the clock "mechanism will operate through a pre determined elapsed time period related .to' the valueof the" particular coin or coins deposited and will-m'aintainthe" circuitina closed condition so as to allow theffun'ction ing of the oil burner.

Upon termination of said elapsed. time" period and in the absence of the deposit of additional coinage, ithe" system isrendered unoperative' and the oil burnerwill nd't" function.

Let us'assume that the'system has beenproperly wired .i' into the low voltage lines 26 and "32' of'the'normal oil burner circuit and that the plug 40 has "been inserted into the wall receptacle 14.

With a coin deposited into the measuringdevice C,"'the 0 switch 44 is caused to close against theicontact 49.

So long as the thermostat 68 is not calling for heat, no action ensues.

is energized so that the arm 28 closes on the contact 34, wherefor the relay 22 in turn is energized by the closing of the arm 24 on the contact 25 in the line 8 and the oil burner is rendered operative by the flow of energy to the motor 4.

Such condition prevails during the time interval determined by the value of the coinage deposited, which time interval is controlled by the motor 46.

For the vendee to pull the plug 40 from its receptacle 14 and thus defeat or cheat the system will hardly suffice in view of the connections between the time measuring mechanism C and the low voltage circuit.

To defeat or cheat the system involves making an appropriate connection between the lines 26 and 32.

When the timing motor has operated for the period of time related to the coil deposited, switch 44 opens and relay 30 is energized and the oil burner motor will not be operable on demand of the thermostat until the deposit of an additional coin or coins for another time cycle.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the system will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described.

Accordingly, limitation of this invention should be 'made only as determined by a proper interpretation of the terms used in the subjoined claim. 7

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

I claim:

In combination with a power source and the motor of a thermostat-controlled oil burner and electrical connections therebetween, a switch means for connecting and disconnecting the motor and the power source and the thermostat including circuitry connecting to the switch means for effecting the connection of the motor and the power source upon a demand for operation of the motor and the disconnection thereof upon a satisfaction of the demand, the improvement in a prepayment mechanism for the control of the supply of energy to the oil burner the deposition of a prepayment coin of certain value past the coin-operating switch and into the time-measuring mechanism, the time-measuring mechanism including means for effecting the operation thereof through a total increment of continuous or non-continuous running time according to the value of the deposited coin, and a low voltage power circuit including a transformer having a primary connected to said high voltage power circuit and a relay consisting of a relay coil and a switch arm, the switch arm of the relay of said low voltage power circuit being disposed in said high voltage power circuit, said low voltage power circuit being connected to the thermostat and connections of a circuit between the signal switch arm of the relay of said high voltage power circuit and a contact therefor and the switch means between the power sourceand the motor of the oil burner, said low voltage power circuit being energized so long as the time measuring mechanism of said high voltage power circuit is rendered operative and the thermostat is demanding operation of the motor for eifecting the actuation of the signal switch arm of the relay of said high voltage power circuit and the actuation of the switch means in the high voltage connections between the power source and the motor leading to the energization of the motor during any time interval while the thermostat is demanding motor operation falling within the time inter val of prepaid running time of the time-measuring mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,139,523 Smith Dec. 6, 1938 

